THE Minister of State for Energy, Mr Emmet Stagg, has said he will "use every ounce of power" at his disposal to "frustrate the obvious intentions of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Progressive Democrat councillors to continue their maverick rezonings" in north Co Kildare, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Correspondent.

In a statement yesterday, he said the strategy adopted by the council's majority would mean further development pressure on the towns in the area, such as Maynooth, Kilcock and Leixlip, while also pursuing the recommended plan of concentrating new housing in mid Kildare.

He noted that a Labour Party motion which sought to preserve the land on both sides of the treelined avenue linking Maynooth to Carton Demesne had been "voted down by the right wing coalition on the council". This had shown "their spots have not changed".

Mr Stagg said the majority of Kildare councillors were "thumbing their noses" at the Minister for the Environment.